Leadership Journal

At this year's clergy workshop, a denominational staff person hailed the virtues of lay ministry. He attempted to shock us with statements such as, "We are in a post-Christian, post-Constantinian era when Christianity is relegated to the sidelines of mainstream society and culture." Furthermore, "If we clergy don't unleash the laity to do ministry, as the early church did, then we will die as a denomination!"

Wake-up calls were quickly followed by descriptions of the cell-group model of developing lay leaders. Clergy are supposed to select about a half dozen strong lay persons to train as pastoral caregivers, outreach persons, etc. What still echoes in my mind is the suggestion that if I don't do this, then my small church of 80 worshipers on Sunday will die!

Of course, such leadership workshops are accompanied by great collegial fellowship. We celebrated Holy Communion together.

Finally, we heard more about the growth potential of a ministry in which clergy equip and empower laity to do daily pastoral care (and the pastor remains available for crises).

After the final hymn of our two-day retreat, I drove home to the town of 250 people where I serve as pastor in the Lutheran church. It's nothing like the environment I've just left. The lingering retreat aroma of fresh pine trees is abruptly interrupted by the smell of a dead skunk in the middle of the state route into town.

Still, I can't contain the excitement of what could happen when we implement lay ministry in our church of about thirty families. So I stop to share all my newly acquired information with the lady at the post office. A strong supporter of my ministry, she is also my council's evangelism person. Upon hearing the fiery excitement of my voice and the benefits of undershepherding ministries, the first words out of her mouth are, "Forget it, Pastor. Why do you think 80 percent of our budget goes to your compensation package?"

The wind knocked out of my sails, I realize that most people in my small congregation don't want to be unleashed to do ministry. It's not a matter of pastors like me stifling their creativity or their leadership potential within. It's a matter of tired, exhausted people who want a shepherd.

My congregation considers the annual council election on par with drawing lots to see who gets a root canal. Mine is a congregation of dual-income households with tired parents and overscheduled children. I'm lucky to get such people to show up for council once a month (with summers off) and for committee meetings four times a year, and to teach.

To suggest that such people have some sort of pent-up energy to do cell-group-style ministry is grabbing for straws. Ever since I've arrived, this congregation's main objective has been to sustain a full-time, ordained pastor as their shepherd. I am that faithful shepherd. It remains a mysterious symbol of stability. They like my wearing the clerical collar and leading worship ...